of dayton



Mar. 20, 1923.

M. G. KOPF PRIMER AND AUXILIARY FUEL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 0 n a a A 2 2 0 31 ev wnvumm S I, ,ar-h n M@w/4W w M T a M 6 W 4 7 c 3 9 8 3 M .0 Z 0 2 3 v M v .rrso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELBGSE G. KOPF. OF DAYTON, OHIO, .ASSIGNOB, TO THE MCCORMICK LABORATORIES COMPANY, OFDAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

iWElTMER AND AUXILIARY FUEL DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed January 21, 1918. Serial No. 212.857.

Tom! i/"fiwu It may concern:

llc it hu wm the! l, Marines]; (l. KUI'F, a citizen of the l'nit d States. residing at Dayton in the county of Montgomery and State of tlhio, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lrimers and Auxiliary Fu l Devices for internal-(om lm tion liiigjines, of which the following is a spccificuiion, reference being had therein t-c the ucc -innpanying drawing.

This invention relates to a primer and auxiliary fuel device for an internal comliustii'm engine.

"the (illjifff oi the invention is. first, to jfl'tii'lil-t' :1 device for injecting a charge of fuel into the cylinder of the engine, when the l tter is dle. to facilitate the starting of the some: and, second, to provide a device for lending to the cylinder of the enpine. in-n the latter is in operation, a heated vaporized mixture of fuel and air to sllpplcnu'nl the charge drawn from the carhurcl r.

i l i al o an oh icct of the invention to prnki-ie itwt llfi for delivering to the engine it m morial initial charge; and for injectlnWFt'tliit into the cylinder of the'enwonunder pressure; and for lltUllllLlllgI the some la is also an object of the invention to pi vidc a device of this kind whi h will he ic simple in its constructhui and opera and will omprise very few moving" arts: and. further, to provide such a dc ith a very simple control operable from the instrument hoard of an nutomoli le.

in the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion oi eh automqiiile showing the invention in elevation; Figure 2 is u \ll'lhnl sectional view of thrrccepiacie: l iguro ii is a detail ti e of the air valve f r the receptacle; Figure 1 is n sectional view through the valic cup of one of the engine ylimlers; i'ic'ure h is a dingrumnmtic view showing the invention applied to a pressure feed system; Figure (3 is :1 detail view of the ac looting deviie; and Figure T is a pi'lspew live detail lie; of lhe feed nozzl leading in the cylinder. W In that embodiment of the invention here illustrated l have shown the same as applied to a four cylinder automobile (onnected with each cylinder of the enginev is an auxiliary fuel feed device which operates, first, as a primer to facilitate the starting of the engine, and, second, as an auxiliary feed device to furnish an additional supply of fuel to the engine when the latter" is in operation. To accomplish this latter function the device is in the nature of a mixing chamber in which vaporized fuel and air are mixed and are then drawn to the engine by the suction in the engine cylinder. In that form of the invention here shown the auxiliary feed 'device comprises a fuel reicptucle 4, connected with a source of fuel supply, which may be either the normal fuel supply for the engine, or a special fuel supply separately connected with the receptacle, such as a tank of ether or thelike. Preferahly, however, the receptacle is connected with a normal fuel supply, as here shown. It is desirable that means he provided for controlling th quantity of fuel in the re ceptacle 4 and for maintaining the same at a constant level when the engine is idle, thereby enabling ameasured quantity, or charge, of fuel to be delivered to each cylindcr of the engine when the contentsof' the receptacle are discharged therefrom. A predetermined quantity of fuel may be retained in the receptacle in various ways, but I prefer l0 awomplish this automatically by so positioning this receptacle with relation to some part of the fuel supply mechanism that the desired level of fuel will be maintained therein. In the present construction I have shown the engine as provided with a vacuum fuel feed device of a well known character, which comprises a fuel tank 5 connected with a source of fuel supply and with the carhuroter 3. and within which the fuel is maintained at a constant level. As this vacuum feed is a standard commercial article it is not necessar to here describe its construction or operation in detail. The

til

rtwipturlc by screw-threading the enlarged u per end thereof into the top plate of the rwcptaile. The conductors lead from the toil to a source of supply for electrical current. such as a battery 23, and to a circuit low-ulcer and loser mounted at a remote point. and in the present instance ar- Ttlirgetl on the instrument hoard 13. In order that. the device may he set in operatio l tiy a ,siugl movement on the part of the opcratot l ha e combined the circuit breaker and loser with the valve actuating; device. or pull rod. l5. this being .IUt-Uiillfillfilivtl hy eel-urine one contact nieniiicr of the circuit breaker and cloacr. to the inner end of the pull rod and armngin the same to engage the tixcd contact member when the pull rod is actuated to open the valve 12. It uill he upparent. therefore. that when the engine is idle and the operator desiree to start the same the only action necessary on his part is to operate. the pull rod 15 to open the valve 12 and lose the circuit through the heating coil Ill. The flow of current through this coil will cause it to lic at very rapidly and the vaporization of the fuel within the receptacle will lit-gin almost instantly. and will soon create there in SHillt'itHll pressure to open the valve 16 and force the unvaporized fuel from the receptaclc through the pipe 9 and the iuanifold it! to the several cylinders The unvaporisced fuel having been heated Within the recepta le i will he delivered to the cyh iudcrs in a: heated condition and the pres sure on the fuel will ause the same to he delivered through the openings ll" into the receptacle and cylinders in a finely atomized form. It will he noted that E ie a; rangement of the contacte 24 and 525 with relation to the actuating device. or pull rod. such that the contacts will he brought into engagement. and the circuit closed through the heater. only when the valve 12 is in its fully open position. This permits the valve {3 to he adjusted to deliver a supplenwntal supply of fuel to the engine. when the latter is in operatioi'i. without closingthe circuit through the heater. A

As l- Well known. in order to secure a proper comhustihle mixture for the engine under urving conditions, such as; changes n temperature and the like. it is nece ary to adjust the carhureter according to the conditions which may arise. The changing of u =ll'hlllt'ltt' is always undesirable. partiiulurly where the new adjustment is to he i: l' liil'll a coinparativcly short time on! there is always one adjustment uh vr w ilit'iilil 'ttl and aatisfacto fi'.

and th curlurrctcr should. it possihle, he

o e-=2 maintained in this ad ustment. 'lo

enulih l ll-- uwt'crrml adjustment of the can aliiltl" to he so nuuntulned and at the name are a nurture of the dc tred charheaten thus causing; it to he vaporized.

acter and quantity for the engine. I have so arranged my auxiliary feeding devit'e that itwvill supply to the engine when the latter is in operation. a heated mixture of vaporized fuel and air the richness of which can be controlled. 'ldaccomplish this the receptacle 4 is provided with an air intake opening'Qti which is controlled by a check Valve 27 arranged to admit air to the re ceptncle. hut to prevent the escape of the air or vapor therefrom. Preferably a valve 28 is provided for regulating the amount of air which can enter the receptacle. The dclivrry of the initial charge of fuel from the receptacle to the cylinders will leave the reccptacle practically empty. and as soon as the engine starts into operation a suction" Will he created in the receptacle through the pipuaQ, Of course fuel will begin to enter the. receptacle as soon as the level therein falls hclmvthc level of the fuel in the tank 5 and the suction created in the receptacle will serve to draw this fuel into the recepe tat-1e more rapidly. lreferahly the inlet is JH'OVltlttl with a nozzle 29 by meansQf which the incoming fuel is sprayed against the At the same time the suction Within the casing is drawing: air through the air inlet 26 and this air. which is then heated. is milled with the heated vapor and this heated mixture is drawn through the pipe 9 to the cylinders. thus iroviding the same with a supplemental supply of heated comhustihle mixture. This supplemental supply of fuel may he maintained onstantly if conditions require it. or it may he maintained for short. intervals only. it hein only necessary to operate the controlling evice 15 to interrupt the operation of the auxiliary device. It will he noted that in cold weather. or under conditions in which the vaporization of the fuel in the carhureter is retarded. the auxiliary fuel pipe. 30. which leads to the source of fuel supply. such as the gasoline tank. and have provided the pipes with a series of cut-ofi' valves to control the llow of fuel through the same. The pipe (3 is provided with a cut-off Ill adjacent. to the tank 5 and the pipe Iii) is provided with a cut-off 32 between the ltlllli and the source of fuel supply.

l nder ordinary operating conditions the a further quantity of fuel cannot be delivered to the engine so long as this pressure is maintained. and ordinarily the pressure will be maintained until the engine has been turned over.

It will be apparent. therefore, that the construction and operation of the device is such that after the controlling device has been actuated by the operator the action of the primer is wholly automatic. both to inject into the engine the priming charge and to prevent the injection of a further quantity of fuel into the engine, and the operator cannot. either purposely or inadvertently, inject repeated charges of fuel into the engine without making an effort to start the same.

After the priming operation and after the engine has been started the device assumes the function of a supplemental carbureter. Ho long as the controlling valve remains fully open the operation of the englue will cause a heated mixture of fuel and air to be drawn into the cylinders. By adjusting the actuating device after the Pin gine has become warm the heater can be cut oil' and the valve gradually closed to regulate the supplemental supply of com bustihle mixture. So long as the contlol ling valve is open the fuel will not accumulate in the receptacle 4 but will he vaporized therein and mixed with air. .\s soon as the valve is closed the liquid fuel will rise in the receptacle to the predetermined level and the device is again ready for use as aprimer.

It will be apparent, therefore. that l have provided a device which will deliver to the engine. while idle. a measured charge of atomized liquid fuel; which will deliver to the engine. While in operation. and under the control of the operator. a supplemental supply of combustible mixture; and which will heat either the priming charge or the supplemental supply of combustible mixture. I believe myself to be the first to produce a device for accomplishing these functions. either individually or collectively. l/Vhile I have in the present drawings illustrated the same as connected with the cylinders of the engine through a separate manifold, it will be obvious that it could be otherwise connected to the engine, as for example, through the intake manifold; and further that while the device is designed primarily as an auxiliary feed it could be utilized as a. sole source of supply for fuel.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of m invention I wish it to be understood that do not desire to be limited to the details of construction as various modifications will occurto a person skilled in the art.

Having now. fully described my invention,

what if claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 2- l. The combination with an internal ombustion engine, of a device for injecting into said engine under pressure. a charge oi iuei. said device comprising means independent of the operation of mid engine for utiliuing the find itself as the agent for creating the pressure and inicctiug the charge into the engine,

.2. The comhim'ition with an internal coinhustion engine. of a receptacle connected with said engine and adapted to contain fuel. and means independent of the operation oi said engine to vaporilze a poriini'l of the fuel within said l'i-ccptuclc said rcceptacic being (instructed toi'oniinc the vapor within the same and thus cause it to exert pressure on the llHYj if HllZttl incl and to discharge the latter from the recepta le into the engine.

3. The combination with an internal cli|| bustion engine. :rf a receptacle adapted to contain fuel. a conduit to connect said w ceptaclc with said engine. a heater owaporize a portion ol the loci uitliiii aid rcceptacle. said lit'illhiltlt being consl tin-ted to continc the vapor therein and thus cau e it to overt pressure on theuuvoporlzcd loci and discharge the some through the conduit.

l. 'lhr combination with an internal mine hustiou engine. of a receptacle adapted to contain fuel. a conduit counw'fiuu will ccptacle with said ngin .1 heater li vapor izc a portion of the fuel u'ithiu mid rcceptacle. said receptacle being tonstru-ctcd to confine the vapor within the same and'thus cause it to exert pi'tesiifl on the unvapon ixcd loci and discharge the same through said conduit. and IIltHllo to prevent llll a.. sage of said unvaporized fuel through said conduit until a predetermined pressure has been created \vit iiu said receptacle.

5. The combination with an internal conibustion engine. of a receptacle adapted to contain t'uel. a conduit connecting said rc ceptacle with said engine. a valve to control the. passage of fuel through said conduit. a heater to vaporize a portion of the fuel within said receptacle. said receptacle being constria-tcd to confine the within the same and thus cause it to exert pressure on the unvaporized fuel and t discharge the same through said conduit. and aasingle device for actuating said valve and controlling said heater.

6. The combination with an internal combustion engine. of a receptacle adapted to contain fuel, a conduit connecting said receptacle \vith said engine. a valve, to control the flow of fuel through said conduit. an. electrical heater to vaporize a portion oi the fuel within said receptacle. the recepta clc being constructel to confine the vapor Within the same an thus cause it to exert vapor Elli] ering'to said engine, when the latter is idle, an initial charge of heated fuel, and for de livering to said en ine, when the latter is in operation, a supp emental supply of combustible mixture, and for heating said mixture.

20. In a priming device for an internal combustion engine, a fuel receptacle, and means for vaporizing a portion of the fuel within said receptacle to create pressure therein and cause liquid fuel 'to be discharged therefrom to said engine.

21. In a device of the character described, a fuel receptacle having a fuel inlet and an air inlet, check valves to prevent the escape of fuel or air from said receptacle through either of said inlets, a fuel outlet, and means for vaporizing a portion of the fuel within said receptacle to create pressure and discharge liquid fuel through said fuel outlet.

22- In a device of the character described, a fuel receptacle having a fuel inlet, an air inlet, and a fuel outlet, check valves to'close said inlets a heater to vaporize a portion of the fuel within the receptacle and create pressure to discharge fuel through said out let, a cut-off valve for said fuel outlet, and controlling means to control said valve and said heater.

. 23. The combination with an internal combustion engine and fuel feeding mechanism therefor, of a receptacle connected with said fuel feeding mechanism and so arranged with relation thereto that fuel will be maintained at a predetermined level in said receptacle when the engine is idle. and means for heating the fuel in said receptacle to vaporize a portion thereof. said receptacle being closed to confine vapor therein and cause unvaporized fuel to be ejected through said connection by the pressure of the vaporized fuel.

24. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and means for feeding fuel feeding means as to cause fuel is he maintained at a predetermined level therein when said engine is idle, means for heating the fuel within said receptacle, and means for connecting said receptacle directly with a source of fuel supply.

2:). The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a receptacle connected with a source of fuel supply, adapted to contain a quantitv of liquid fuel, and having a, valve-controlled air inlet and a water inlet, a conduit leading from said receptacle to the cylinder of said engine, and a heater arranged within said receptacle and interposed between the fuel, air and water inlets and said conduit.

26. The combination with an internal combustion engine, of a receptacle connected with a. source of fuel supply adapted to con tain a quantity of, liquid fuel and having a. valve-controlled air inlet, a conduit leading from said receptacle to the cylinder of said engine, a heater arranged within said receptacle to heat said fuel and said air, and means for injecting water into said receptacle and against said heater.

27. A device of the character described comprising a single device for deliver-inc to an engine, when the latter is idle. an initial charge of fuel, and for delivering to said engine. when the latter is in operation, a supplemental supply of combustible inixtwc and means for intirmingling water with s. 1 :1

mixture l'ieforc it is delivered to said engine. 289A device of the character described com 'nising a single device for delivering to an engine, when the latter is idle. an initial charge of fuel, and for delivering to said engine. when the latter is in operatifnl, a supplelncntal supply of combustible mixture, and means for adding water to said mixture and for heating the same before it is delivered to the engine.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature .hereto.

MELROSE G. KOPF. 

